FHG Volume: 11 Archives - Page 8 of 12

The Case of the Missing Logical File

May 18, 2011 Hey, Mike

I created a logical file that combines multiple tables into a single result set (similar to a SQL UNION.) However, when Microsoft Excel’s Query Wizard presents a list of available tables and views to query, this logical file does not show up in the list. What is the problem?

Suzy

Hi, Suzy:

The problem is that DB2 for i is classifying your logical file as a non-relational file. It turns out that the Microsoft Excel Query Wizard uses ODBC (or OLE DB for Excel 2007 and later) to access DB2 for i. When tools like the Query Wizard and Crystal

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Admin Alert: Running System i Cleanup Manually

May 18, 2011 Joe Hertvik

A reader recently wrote me inquiring about some of the finer points in running the i operating system’s cleanup tasks for clearing out messages, job logs, and other system output. While IBM offers a decent automated cleanup function, it’s not quite as clear how to manually run the cleanup option. This week, I’ll review what cleanup tasks do and show you how to run this function either automatically or manually.

What Are the Cleanup Tasks?

Cleanup is an i operating system task for manually or automatically cleaning up user messages; system and workstation messages; system journals, job logs and log

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Retrieve Column Descriptions in your ADO Client/Server Applications

May 11, 2011 Hey, Mike

Note: The code accompanying this article is available for download here.

Using the IBMDASQL provider, I want to find the field/column description/label for fields in a record set. However, all my scenarios return null. I am using IBM iSeries Access for Windows V5R3M0 service level SI30707.

–Andy

Here is the Excel VBA code snippet that Andy sent in.

Sub testit()
   Dim con, com, rs
   Set con = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
   con.Open "provider=IBMDASQL;data source=AS400;", "", ""
   Set rs = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
   Set com = CreateObject("ADODB.Command")
   Set com.ActiveConnection = con
   com.CommandText = "select * from QIWS.QCUSTCDT for read only"
   Set rs = com.Execute()
   Debug.Print

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Sharing Simplifies Source Code

May 11, 2011 Ted Holt

I hate huge programs. For one thing, I’m not smart enough to wrap my mind around a big program. And it seems that modifying one part of the program invariably causes something to go amiss elsewhere. Dividing a program into subprocedures, modules, and multiple programs is a good way to manage large tasks. But what do you do when you’ve divided a program into two or more modules and/or programs, and more than one of them needs to contribute to a single report? You share.

Suppose you have a program that builds a report of accounts receivable. It’s a manageable

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Admin Alert: Critical Information That Every i Administrator Should Have Handy

May 11, 2011 Joe Hertvik

Similar to other hardware systems, crises can happen whenever you administer iSeries, System i, and Power i equipment in a data center. However, being a good administrator means knowing what to do and having the appropriate information available when you’re handling a crisis. This week, I’ll look at four key lists you should have handy to restore functionality after a system issue or disaster occurs.

The Big Four Lists

Generally, you’ll need the following information at your fingertips when a critical issue occurs that eliminates some or all i operating system functionality in your shop.

IP addresses, critical profile names,

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DDS Design with RD Power

April 27, 2011 Susan Gantner

In an earlier tip, I provided a peek at the DDS Designer integrated with RSE in the Rational Developer for Power Systems (a.k.a., RD Power). In this tip, I’m going to go into a few features that may not be easy to spot at first glance. But some of these things are among my favorite features of the tool.

In the last tip, I talked about how to easily see and edit the DDS source using the Source tab under the Design view. If you just want to have a peek at the source for a particular item

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Updating Through a Join with SQL, Take Two

April 27, 2011 Hey, Ted

I am studying your tip Updating through a Join with SQL, and something escapes me. I do not understand the redundancy in the first code example. Do all updates that involve joins have to have redundant code?

–Ron

I know it’s confusing, Ron. I can go into more detail for you.

This is the example to which you refer:

update customer as c
   set region =
      (select newregion
         from fixes
        where oldregion = c.region)
 where exists
      (select *
         from fixes
        where oldregion = c.region)

You’re right that there is some redundancy. Both the SET and WHERE clauses of the

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Why is my i/OS Email Coming Back Undeliverable?

April 27, 2011 Hey, Joe

We send a lot of emails from our i 6.1.1 partition using the operating system’s SMTP server and a third-party email application. We recently converted from paper to email invoices, which has resulted in a big spike in System i email. Now we’re also seeing more messages returned from our external SMTP relay as “undeliverable.” What’s going on and what can I do about it?

–Glen

Given the increased traffic, it looks like your external SMTP server is being overwhelmed with email demands and that is delaying delivery. The external server may simply be busy and not able to handle

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Installing a PHP/MySQL Open Source Application on i

April 20, 2011 Paul Tuohy

I have often used PHP/MySQL open source applications on my PC, but I have never had the opportunity, or need, to use one on the IBM i. That is, not until recently.

I was working on a project with three other developers, and we are located in Ireland, Canada, and the U.S. We needed some simple project management software that would work over the Web and did not require in degree in “Gant chart” mechanics. After a quick search I came across a PHP/MySQL open source package, ProjectPier, which seemed to suit our needs.

So, in this article, I

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Stuff I Neglected to Mention on February 16, 2011

April 20, 2011 Ted Holt

No matter how hard I try, it seems that I often neglect to mention something important in an article. On February 16, Four Hundred Guru included two of my articles–one about commands, the other about output queues and print devices. In each one, I omitted a salient piece of information. Fortunately, readers of this august publication were quick to bring my shortcomings to my attention. Here are some representative comments.

Hey, Ted:

Another fan of commands here. I think you missed one of the best advantages of using commands instead of CALL–namely, that of managing change–in your article Commands: Underused

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